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Introduction This is one of seven Transit Oriented Development training modules developed by the Regional Plan Association, the Project for Public Spaces and Reconnecting America under contract to the New York State Department of Transportation in collaboration with the New York State Thruway Authority and MTA/Metro-North Railroad. The modules were presented and tested in one-day training sessions in two counties and two-day training sessions in eight municipalities, all in the lower Hudson Valley. Each module is, largely, the culmination of the versions used in the training sessions. The seven modules are as follow. Module 1: Building Quality communities Around Transit Module 2: Changing Street Design to Support Liveable Development Module 3: Smart Parking Module 4: Creating Great Places Around Transit Module 5: Regulations and Financing Tools for TOD Module 6: Building Mixed Income Communities Around Transit Module 7: Station Area Planning
Goals for Smart Parking • Balance parking supply and demand. • Consider innovative parking management policies. • Locate parking with sensitivity to context.
Key Concepts and Definitions • There is no such thing as free parking. • Parking costs $5k-$40k per space. • Costs are passed along to the consumer.
Key Concepts and Definitions • TOD requires less parking because households near transit own fewer cars. • Residents and workers near transit ride transit more.
Key Concepts and Definitions • Short-term vs. Long-term Parking • Short-term: Convenience retail oriented, generally on-street • Long-term: Generally off-street with a mix of uses • Regional vs. local parking
Challenges • Most cities have a one-size-fits-all parking requirement that covers the entire city. • Parking requirements do not change with density and transit availability, which add costs to TOD. • Managing parking effectively requires an investment of resources.
Types of Parking and Parking Tools • Park-and-Ride • Shared Parking • Bicycle Parking • “Unbundled” Parking • Car Sharing
Park-and-Ride • Parking is located near transit stations for transit riders. • User fees are sometimes charged. • Parking usually located on publicly owned land. • Parking does not need to be immediately adjacent to transit station.
Shared Parking • Parking is shared among multiple uses. • It takes advantage of different peak usage hours for parking. • It can be used in residential and employment environments.
Office TOTAL SPACES Restaurant TOTAL SPACES Restaurant 5 1/2 – 6 per 1,000 sf Entertainment 2 1/2 – 3 per 1,000 sf Office Entertainment EMPTY Do opportunities exist to share parking? Exclusive Parking Shared Parking Empty 6 Noon 6 6 Noon 6
Bicycle Parking • Types of Bicycle Parking: Indoor Parking Bicycle Lockers Bicycle Racks • Approximately 10 bikes can fit in 1 car parking space. • Weather protection and security are critical for use.
“Unbundled” Parking • Parking is physically or economically separated from its associated use. • It affects the sizing, design, site and construction of parking. • It promotes the efficient use of parking resources.
Car Sharing • It gives access to centrally owned and maintained vehicles. • It is near homes, workplaces or transit hubs. • It helps lower household auto ownership rates.
3 Strategies for Smart Parking • Regulatory Tools for Smart Parking • District Parking Tools • Smart Parking Design Parking garage at Kansas City Library
Strategy 1: Regulatory Tools • Reduce or eliminate minimum parking requirement. • Create parking maximums.
Reduce or Eliminate Minimum Parking Requirements • Tailor requirements to usage. • Allow for shared parking. • Let the market determine parking levels. • Require viable transportation alternatives. Hunts Point, WA
Create Parking Maximums • Set limits or “caps” on the quantity of parking that can be provided. • Promote more efficient use of land. • Encourage the use of alternative modes. Most places overbuild parking
Strategy 2: District-Wide Parking Tools • Parking Assessment • Parking Pricing • District Parking Financing
Parking Assessment • Evaluate current utilization of public and private parking resources. • Recommend appropriate tools to maximize parking assets and potentially to generate additional revenue.
Parking Pricing • It can affect parking occupancy, induce greater turnover, increase parking availability and generate revenue. • Effective pricing can impact the amount of commuter parking and increase customer access to short-term parking supplies.
District Parking Financing • Tools and methods are available to finance district parking. • They can also finance related transportation improvements. New York towns have existing on-street parking assets
District Parking Financing • There are many different types of financing tools. • Parking districts are used for funding: • Local transit (bus/streetcar) • Street improvements • Public and private development New York towns have existing on-street parking assets
Strategy 3: Smart Parking Design • Use on-street parking to calm traffic. • Hide parking from street. • Activate ground floor of structure parking. • Provide pedestrian amenities and security.
Use On-Street Parking to Calm Traffic • Provide a buffer for traffic. • Provide a short-term parking reservoir.
Hide Parking from the Street • Off-street parking should be located behind buildings, not in front. • Trees or other landscape barriers can screen parking areas.
Provide Pedestrian Amenities and Security • Lighting and safety are important features of off-street parking. • Landscaping and clear pathways improves pedestrian access.
Activate the Ground Floor of Structured Parking • Ground floor retail or other uses can be added to off-street garages. • Entries to garages should be located in side streets or alleys.
